Ten Reasons to Avoid Soft Drink Consumption:

1. A single can of soda contains the equivalent of 10 teaspoons of sugar. This amount of sugar, especially in liquid form, skyrockets the blood sugar and causes an insulin reaction in the body. Over time, this can lead to diabetes or insulin resistance, not to mention weight gain and other health problems. Soft drink companies are the largest user of sugar in the country.
2. Soda contains phosphoric acid, which interferes with the body’s ability to absorb calcium and can lead to osteoporosis, cavities and bone softening. Phosphoric Acid also interacts with stomach acid, slowing digestion and blocking nutrient absorption.
3. In diet sodas, aspartame is used as a substitute for sugar, and can actually be more harmful. It has been linked to almost a hundred different health problems including seizures, multiple sclerosis, brain tumors, diabetes, and emotional disorders. It converts to methanol at warm temperatures and methanol breaks down to formaldehyde and formic acid. Diet sodas also increase the risk of metabolic syndrome, which causes belly fat, high blood sugar and raised cholesterol.
4. Most sodas contain caffeine, which has been linked to certain cancers, breast lumps, irregular heart beat, high blood pressure, and other problems.
5. The water used in soda is just simple tap water and can contain chemicals like chlorine, fluoride and traces of heavy metals.
6. Harvard researchers have recently positively linked soft drinks to obesity. The study found that 12 year olds who drank soda were more likely to be obese than those who didn’t, and for each serving of soda consumed daily, the risk of obesity increased 1.6 times.
7. Sodas contain High Fructose Corn Syrup, which obviously comes from corn. Most of this corn has been genetically modified, and there are no long term studies showing the safety of genetically modified crops, as genetic modification of crops has only been around since the 1990s. Also, the process of making High Fructose Corn Syrup involves traces of mercury, which causes a variety of long term health problems.
8. There is absolutely no nutritional value in soda whatsoever. Not only are there many harmful effects of soda, but there are not even any positive benefits to outweigh them.  Soda is an unnatural substance that harms the body.
9. Because of the high sugar, sodium and caffeine content in soda, it dehydrates the body and over a long period of time can cause chronic dehydration.
10. Drinking soda regularly causes plaque to build up on the teeth and can lead to cavities and gum disease.

Have a healthy week!

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How to Make Almond Milk:

Ingredients

• 1 cup raw organic almonds
• 4 cups pure filtered water
• vanilla bean (optional)
• dates, honey or stevia (optional)

Instructions

1. Soak almonds for at least 12 hours in pure water with 1/2 tsp sea salt. This is an important step as it breaks down the phytic acid and enzyme inhibitors and cultures beneficial enzymes in the almonds. (side note: soaking nuts should be done before eating them as well. Soak nuts in salt water for 12 hours, rinse them, and dry in oven on lowest heat.)
2. Rinse almonds well. Mix almonds with pure water in blender or Vitamix.
3. Blend several minutes until smooth and creamy. (Warning: mixture will expand some, so make sure your blender is not full before starting it)
4. Strain mixture into a large bowl through a sprout bag, cheese cloth or kitchen towel.
5. Put mixture back into blender with vanilla, soaked dates, or other sweetener.
6. Pour into glass jar or pitcher and store in fridge for up to one week.

Note: Save the pulp of the almonds, put on cookie sheet and dehydrate in oven on lowest heat until completely dry. Run through blender or food processor to make almond flour, which can be used in recipes in place of flour.

Have a healthy weekend!

Click here for more recipes.

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Until recently (the last 10,000 years or so), humans existed primarily on meat and vegetation, as things like grains and potatoes were too difficult to grow and cook until the dawn of the agricultural and industrial revolutions. Most of the animals eaten at this time ate grass and vegetation, and as such had a high nutrient content.

It is generally agreed that agricultural farming was only started in the last 10,000 to 20,000 years: a short time in the span of human evolution. Before this time, grains were fermented or partially sprouted as they were left in the fields and exposed to rain and sun before being eaten. This allowed the grains to germinate and produce enzymes, which also produces Vitamin C. This process also broke down the phytic acid in the grains. Phytic acid is a mineral blocker which prevents the absorption of calcium, magnesium, and other minerals.

According to one source:

These inhibitors can neutralize our own digestive enzymes, resulting in the digestive disorders experienced by many people who eat unsprouted grains. There are many scientific indicators linking grain consumption to rheumatic and arthritic conditions as well.⁴ Complex sugars responsible for intestinal gas are broken down during sprouting and a portion of the starch in grain is transformed into sugar. Sprouting also inactivates aflatoxins, which are toxins produced by fungus and are potent carcinogens found in grains.

In recent times we have deviated sharply from the natural whole food diet that our bodies require.

The contemporary human diet results in the body’s net production of noncarbonic acid, which ranges from 10 to 150 mEq/d among diets today. Although the body has mechanisms to compensate for deviations in systemic acid-base equilibrium, blood acidity tends to be increased and plasma bicarbonate concentrations tend to be decreased due to the present day net acid load. This condition, known as low-grade acidosis, may result in the dissolution of bone, muscle wasting, kidney stone formation, and damage to the kidney.

This acid connection is important to understand. If you look at the pH of blood, it should be around 7.4 which is slightly basic. In people who eat a lot of grains, blood pH is found to be slightly acidic, which can cause various problems in the body. When the body is acidic, it will attempt to compensate and return the body to an alkaline state, and problems like osteoporosis can result as the body pulls Calcium and Magnesium from the bones to alkalize the blood.

As a Nutritional Consultant, I often refer to the “white death,” in the common American diet: the combination of white flour, white rice, white sugar, potatoes, processed salt and processed white foods. While it is logical that these processed foods are less nutritious than the whole grain version, there are some distinct nutritional reasons why:

• In processing, zinc is stropped out of the grain, which disrupts the cadmium to zinc ratio in the body. This can be dangerous as even a small zinc deficiency can cause major problems in the body since zinc is necessary in hormonal functions, enzyme reactions, cell division, protein synthesis and reproduction. This is partially the reason that many of my clients seem rapid improvement in fertility, energy, joint pain and other problems after removing grains from the diet.
• American grains have been shown to be low in protein, and one report showed that even in the last few decades, other countries with starving populations would refuse to accept American grains if any other country offered grains because the nutritionally devoid American grains did very little to help the starving people.
• Processed grains are devoid of B vitamins and Vitamin E, causing further imbalances in the bodies of people who consume high amounts of grains.

It is telling that after only a couple hundred years of eating processed grains, chronic disease, infertility and obesity are rampant. In the last 30 years, studies show that birth rates are declining and infertility is rising among men and women. A recent study from the University of Missouri found that sperm counts in men have decreased by as much as 50% since the 1930s.

Another problem was the boom in running and triathlons, which resulted in the production of numerous popular books on how to eat for success in these sports. The diet plans in these books commonly resemble the USDA Food Pyramid (Figure 1), which is commonly referred to as the USDA Feedlot Pyramid by nutritional experts such as Dr. Barry Sears (author of “The Zone Diet”) because such dietary proportions are far better suited to fattening animals than they are to health and vitality! (source)

Logically, this high grain and processed food diet has also led to an increase in insulin sensitivity or resistance, diabetes, and obesity. Many of the processed foods and grain based products on the market are absorbed almost identically to straight table sugar, causing a myriad of problems:

• fatigue
• depression
• weight gain
• joint pain
• bloating
• diabetes
• vision problems
• hair loss
• and many others

The human body’s storage space for carbohydrates is limited, so when too many carbohydrates are consumed (especially in the form of grains and sugars), they are converted through an insulin reaction, into fats and stored in the body. This increased need for insulin is the reason for the link between high carbohydrate intake and diabetes. High insulin levels also suppress glucagon and growth hormone, which are needed for muscle development and fat burning in the body. (An excellent article about the effects of excess insulin in the body)

With my nutrition clients, I recommend a 30-day fast from all grains and gluten containing foods and from foods containing processed sugars. During this 30 day period, I also recommend keeping a food journal and writing how the client feels after each meal and between meals. Clients who notice a drastic change in health challenges, energy levels, or chronic problems are almost certainly intolerant to grains and many choose to remove grain products temporarily or permanently from the diet. I have also seen the most drastic weight loss and improvement of problems like infertility, chronic miscarriage, joint pain, arthritis, skin problems, etc, in clients who make this choice.

Read more about how removing grains can help treat illnesses like cold and flu.

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I have found in my work as a nutritional consultant, a definite link between diet and susceptibility to the flu. In fact, for the last year, those who have followed my strict nutritional program, are yet to get sick at all, and I have had people come to me in the middle of a bout with the flu and recover very quickly just by changing diet and adding a few supplements. Of course, any advice is strictly for general information and does not take into account any personal details or medications, so check with your doctor before taking any of these recommendations if in doubt. I just wanted to pass on my experience in case it can be of help.

In most cases, the flu can be treated with nutritional changes and simple things most people have around the house:

• Immediately remove all sugars and carbs from diet. This is perhaps the most important step because these can deplete the immune system and feed illness. Remove any processed foods and anything with grains or sugars until all symptoms disappear.
• Hydrate! Start drinking 8 oz water per hour, preferably by sipping slowly on water throughout the entire day. Herbal teas can also be substituted for this water every couple hours as the heat will stimulate the immune response.
• Apple Cider Vinegar: (make sure its organic and says “with the mother”) As horrible as this sounds, it has an alkalizing effect on the body and will also help fight yeasts and bacteria in the body. For acute illness, I take 1 tsp in 8 oz water every 1-2 hours and gargle with it.
• Vitamin C as ascorbic acid- Not everyone has this around the house, though I recommend it if you don’t. The cheapest form is a powdered form which can be added to any liquid to take. Take 500 mg every couple of hours until symptoms dissipate or until bowel tolerance is reached. (Bowel tolerance is the point at which you get loose stools or diarrhea) If you reach bowel tolerance, cut the dose in half and keep taking it.
• Hot bath with white vinegar in it- This will pull toxins out of the body. This is not recommended with a high grade fever, but for a low grade fever, it will raise the body temperature slightly, pull toxins out of the body and help the body fight the illness. Mix 1/2 cup white vinegar into a bath as hot as is bearable.
• Hot ginger tea. If you have fresh ginger root available, boil a few slices in water for about 5 minutes. Strain into a tea cup and add lemon and honey to help with digestive problems, respiratory problems and chills.

Homemade Chicken Vegetable Soup

Another thing I do to help fight the flu or any illness is my homemade chicken soup, which my kids call “sick buster soup.” It is also good for winter dinners:

Ingredients:

• Whole chicken or a few chicken legs or a few chicken breasts
• 3-4 ribs of celery
• 3-4 large carrots
• 2 medium onions
• 5-6 garlic cloves
• 1 package frozen spinach or 1 bag fresh
• 1 head broccoli or 1 bag frozen
• 1 package sliced fresh mushrooms (optional)
• any other vegetables you have around and want to add
• 5-6 eggs, beaten in a bowl
• turmeric
• curry
• oregano
• basil
• cayenne pepper
• parsley
• sea salt
• pepper
• garlic powder (optional)
• Other herbs to taste (rosemary, thyme,etc.)

Boil chicken in large pot until cooked. (note: if using chicken breast instead of whole chicken, chicken broth can be used in place of water). Remove from water and chop into small pieces. Add chopped celery, carrots, onions, garlic cloves to boiling water. Add turmeric, curry, oregano, basil, cayenne, parsley, sea salt, pepper and garlic or herbs to the boiling water. I add 1-2 TBSP of each except cayenne, which I add about 1/2 tsp or to taste. Boil until vegetables are cooked. add spinach, mushrooms and broccoli. While stirring, add beaten eggs slowly so that they distribute (it will look similar to egg drop soup). Boil 2 minutes until eggs cooked, remove from heat and serve.

Here are some other natural remedies.

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Ingredients:

• Whole chicken or a few chicken legs or a few chicken breasts
• 3-4 ribs of celery
• 3-4 large carrots
• 2 medium onions
• 5-6 garlic cloves
• 1 package frozen spinach or 1 bag fresh
• 1 head broccoli or 1 bag frozen
• 1 package sliced fresh mushrooms (optional)
• any other vegetables you have around and want to add
• 5-6 eggs, beaten in a bowl
• turmeric
• curry
• oregano
• basil
• cayenne pepper
• parsley
• sea salt
• pepper
• garlic powder (optional)
• Other herbs to taste (rosemary, thyme,etc.)

1. Boil chicken in large pot until cooked. (note: if using chicken breast instead of whole chicken, chicken broth can be used in place of water). Remove from water and chop into small pieces.

2. Add chopped celery, carrots, onions, garlic cloves to boiling water. Add turmeric, curry, oregano, basil, cayenne, parsley, sea salt, pepper and garlic or herbs to the boiling water. I add 1-2 TBSP of each except cayenne, which I add about 1/2 tsp or to taste.

3. Boil until vegetables are cooked. add spinach, mushrooms and broccoli. While stirring, add beaten eggs slowly so that they distribute (it will look similar to egg drop soup). Boil 2 minutes until eggs cooked, remove from heat and serve.

If you want to print this on a recipe card or print a shopping list for this, check it out on AllRecipes.com

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First, even though the apples were not sprayed with pesticides, I soaked them in a sink full of water with 1/2 cup of white vinegar added to clean off any dirt, pesticides, etc.

Soaking the apples in vinegar water

After we soaked the apples, we rinsed them well and dried them on the table while we played outside. (It took a while to soak all 50 pounds!)

Drying the Apples

Then came the time consuming part, cutting all the apples…. though I did have four little hands to help. I left the skins on because we blend the applesauce after cooking it, and it adds fiber and great texture. For those who don’t like skin, peel away, but I didn’t have the patience to peel that many apples! The fastest way I found to cut them was to cut into quarters, then cut at an angle to cut the seeds out of each piece and then cut each quarter in half.

Cutting the Apples

After we cut them, we threw the apples into the cooking pans. I had two large stainless steel pots on the stove and a crock pot on the counter and filled them all up twice.

Cooking Apples-The Best Air Freshener Ever!

Once in the cooking pans, I added 1-2 cups of water, several tablespoons of cinnamon to taste and about half a teaspoon of ascorbic acid (vitamin C) for nutrition and color.

The only other ingredients besides fresh apples... no preservatives or chemicals here!

I brought the apples to a semi-boil and then lowered to medium heat and simmered for a couple of hours until the apples started breaking down.

After the apples have cooked a couple of hours...

At this point, I blended the apples using a hand blender (not a hand mixer, you need something with blades). You can also use a regular blender, just cook the apples a little bit first.

Blending the Apples

I blended until smooth, and brought the apples back up to a boil. While the apples were heating back up, I sterilized the canning jars, and kept the lids in hot water until ready to use. I then spooned the applesauce into the jars leaving 1/4 inch at the top, wiped the rim with a towel and put the lids on.

I canned according to the instructions on my canner (5 lbs of pressure for 10 minutes).

One batch out of the canner-the finished product.

It made about 20 jars total, which at the rate my Bambini eat this stuff will last us a couple of months. Some things we use applesauce in:

• in recipes instead of part of the oil
• on sandwiches like grilled cheese-sounds weird, but try it!
• in muffins, strudels, etc
• in smoothies

Have a healthy week!

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My first and most important recommendation I can make for weight loss and flu prevention,is to immediately switch to a health diet, though the specifics I recommend may be new to some of you. The old adage “you are what you eat,” has never been more true. As the percentage of the population that is medically classified as overweight or obese rises steadily, it is no surprise that rates of cancer, disease, and other medical issues rise as well. For optimal health, I recommend a diet of high quality proteins, abundant sources of beneficial fats, and adequate amounts of organic or locally grown vegetables, if available.

1. Proteins are necessary for virtually every function the body performs. One of the disadvantages of the low-fat diet that has been promoted my the medical community for so long is the lower intake of protein that often accompanies it. Additionally, a low fat diet is often a high carb diet, as foods like whole grains and starchy vegetables are considered “healthy” low-fat foods. This high carbohydrate diet can contribute to insulin resistance, obesity and eventually diabetes if continued over long periods of time. As proteins are vital for every function of the body, they also perform an important role in immune function and weight maintenance. Antibodies are specialized proteins that help defend the body from illness and bacteria. Proteins are necessary for cell division which is vital in healing and growth, and proteins in the form of hormones and enzymes regulate chemical reactions in the body. The adult body needs one gram of usable protein for each 2.2 pounds of body weight. This means that a 180 pound man would need around 80 grams of protein a day and a 145 pound woman would need about 65 grams a day. I recommend organic grass fed beef, free range chickens, free range eggs, organic raw dairy, and certain forms of protein powder. I will post more on this soon.
2. Fats-This may sound foreign to you if you have followed a low fat diet in the past, but more and more studies are proving that eating fat does not make you fat. In fact, recent research is showing that adequate fat intake is vital to weight loss. (A good discussion on fats here) Fats provide concentrated energy and are important building blocks in hormones. Fats carry the fat soluble vitamins A, D, E and K. Studies show that fats, including the much feared saturated fats, contribute to immune strength, bone strength, and can protect the liver. For optimal immune function, it is important to get adequate fats from healthy sources including olive oil, coconut oil, avocados, nuts/seeds, krill oil and animal sources.
3. Vegetables- I hopefully won’t have to do much to convince you that vegetables are healthy and important for optimal health and weight loss. The important thing is to get organic or locally grown vegetables whenever possible as organic varieties can often contain up to three times the nutrients of conventional vegetables. For weight loss and immune function, it is important to avoid eating too many starchy vegetables like potatoes and winter squash and to focus on greens (spinach, lettuce, kale, mustard greens, etc), peppers, tomatoes, hot peppers, garlic, onions, celery, and asparagus. I get mine in by drinking veggie smoothies and eating a salad or two green vegetables at every meal.

Another recommendation I make for both weight loss and flu prevention is to test and maintain adequate levels of vitamin D. More and more research is showing the importance of Vitamin D in maintain weight levels, preventing disease and for optimal mental health. The best source of Vitamin D is that which is naturally produced by your body when it is exposed to sunlight in moderation, though this can be difficult in winter months. If you are unable to get 30 minutes of sunlight a day, supplementation may be necessary. If you choose to supplement, opt for Vitamin D3, a more assimilable and healthy version than other forms. Since Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin, it can be dangerous if taken in excess. Consider having your vitamin D levels checked by a doctor before beginning any supplementation, though Vitamin D obtained from sunlight is considered safe. It is important to carefully maintain optimal levels of Vitamin D, as too much or too little can be dangerous. Recent research is also showing that optimizing vitamin D levels can be a major factor in maintaining or reaching a healthy weight.

Find out how to treat the flu at home with stuff you have around the house.

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